Chicago Textile Recycling

10/20/2026

Do you have leather or vinyl scraps (5 x 9" or larger)? Or fabric scraps fat quarter (18" x 22") size or larger? Greener Goods accepts these donations for resale and also hosts crafting classes. Check them out!

You can now book appointments online using this link or the button below. By limiting the number of materials that are coming in it supports the safety and health of our volunteers and staff members. 

10/16/2026

This article asks, "What happens to the water that makes circularity possible?" Read here for how we can include even water in the pursuit of textile circularity.

What if the real value in textile recycling isn’t just in the fibre you recover, but also in the wastewater that can be turned into a valuable resource? Textile recycling…

10/13/2026

It's October! To get ready for Halloween, we are posting a series on all the eco-friendly ways you can find/make a costume this year.

09/29/2026

Will the rise in thrifting popularity shift the future of textile recycling? Read more here:

A resurgence of secondhand shopping, new sorting methods and policy initiatives are all poised to help shift the needle on textile waste, speakers at a NERC webinar said.

09/22/2026

Today is the first day of Autumn! As you pull out all of your cozy clothing, recycle anything that no longer fits with us.

09/21/2026

Today is World Gratitude Day! We are so thankful for all of you who are committed to recycling and spreading the word.

09/18/2026

Exciting news in the world of textile recycling! MIT has created a stretchy yarn from grocery bag and milk carton plastics that can be woven into textiles, melted and rewoven again and again without losing structural integrity. This could replace spandex-nylon yarn and more.

After a closet cleanout, what options are there for recycling our old threads? Not many. Apart from bringing used clothes to a donation center, there is no process for recycling textiles like there is for bottles and cans. The average American throws out around 81 pounds of clothing each year. That....

09/15/2026

Children's Books Series

We love educating readers and their families about textile recycling.

6 - Something from Nothing by Phoebe Gilman

A boy's grandfather made him a blanket, and as he grew, the grandfather turned it into a jacket, vest, tie, etc. At the bottom of each page, a mouse family uses the scraps to make things of their own.